Velominati Super Prestige: Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 2013

The monument to Eddy Merckx at the top of the Stockeu.

There is something to love about a race that makes a deviation to its route for the simple joy of sending a fleet of professional riders up a fiendishly steep and narrow ramp. The Cote du Stockeu offers zero benefit to the route from a logistical standpoint – in fact, all it does is complicate things. On the way down from the Cote de Wanne – usually at breakneck speed – the race enters the small down of Stavelot. Just before hitting the town proper, you make a right turn and ascend a wall that does little more than become steeper as it twists it way up for 2.4km. Riding the route with Museeuw during Keepers Tour, he quietly tried to dissuade us of riding it, “You don’t need to do this for me; I’ve never enjoyed this one.”

At the top lies the monument to Merckx and his 525 victories. Upon reaching it, the route takes a sharp left turn and descends right back down to exactly the same spot from which it climbed up. This is why I love this climb so much; its just free pain for the racers – a steep climb just for the sake of making their legs hurt a bit more. Shortly thereafter, the route rolls down a few valleys and arrives at the Cote de la Redoute (The Fearsome), which signals the beginning of the finale. Its too far from the finish to make a winning move, but if you’ve got bad legs, you’ll be left behind to suffer all the way to Ans.

Amstel has been sorted, as has La Fléche. Both were won by an outsider. I don’t think the big names will let that happen again. Surely Gilbert and the Sag Wagon will have their act together this time around.

Check the start list and enter your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight on Sunday morning Pacific Time. The winner of this monument will post for the next year with the LBL Winners Badge. Good luck.

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frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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Marcus says:

Apr 21 2013 at 10:55 pm

@minion

@Ron

Has a World Champ ever gone winless in the year following the WC win?

I think your spiritual mentor itty bitty Bettini had a pretty dry year his first year round in the rainbow stripes. He did, however back up and win the WC again the following year before retiring.

Cav did set some sort of record for crashing in the rainbow stripes as well.

Romans Vainsteins is definitely one - never won a race after hisWorld champs in 2000. A truly dodgy and opportunistic motherfucker. And if I recall rightly from some article from Procycling or Cycle Sport many moons ago, he also managed to marry the daughter of the owner of his team sponsor Vini Caldirola. Respect!
Marcus says:

Apr 21 2013 at 11:18 pm

@minion was that the year he shut the door (very hard) on Baden Cooke in a Giro finish?
Deakus says:

Apr 22 2013 at 12:08 am

@Bianchi Denti

@Gianni

Why did I put f'ing Froome in my picks? And Gilbert, you ruined me. Oh it's good I'm not making a career of this betting. I suck at this.

Probably for the same reason that I picked Froome - because we assumed that Sky would pull finger to get at least one fucking Classics result this year. We may look stupid, but not as stupid as Brailsford looks right about now.

Anyhoo, an enjoyable Ardenees week, despite winning bugger all points. Dan Martin finally comes good, eh? It will be interesting if this pressure makes cousin Nico perform, because nothing else seems to.

I feel the same but...and there is a but...Brailsford said he wanted to win a classic within 2 years (this is year 1). Froome had some mechanicals several times and reckons he expended too much getting back each time. Uran looked strong as a lead out on the climbs right up until he caressed someone elses wheel and went over. Henao also looked strong but had to do too much work over the final climbs...he is not strong enough yet but with those 4 plus Brad and Rogers in the Sky line up, they do look strong on paper for the Grand Tours in the Mountains. You imagine if you've got Henao, Rogers and Uran pulling you up all the peaks then all you need to do is timetrial for your life!...and that is not even mentioning the rest of the squad Knees et al.
G'phant says:

Apr 22 2013 at 12:21 am

Belated burst of querelousness now posted as a result of none of my picks posting (despite them showing). But let that not detract from a brilliant finish. He's been threatening to do something fully awesome like that for a while, now. Listening to Sean Kelly commentate while he did it seemed impeccably appropriate. Brilliant stuff .
LA Dave says:

Apr 22 2013 at 12:26 am

@frank

All in all, I can't remember more riders whom I didn't want to win getting to the line in the front group and having a guy like Martin take them all for a ride. Fantastic stuff. LBL, I love you.

My sentiments exactly.

My VSP took a dump because of his win, but I can't feel bad for a second. A great way to end the classics season, just sad it's over.
Marcus says:

Apr 22 2013 at 12:32 am

@Deakus except Rogers will be riding for Contador. Do you touch yourself when you think about Team Sky?
minion says:

Apr 22 2013 at 1:36 am

@Marcus

@minion

@Ron

Has a World Champ ever gone winless in the year following the WC win?

I think your spiritual mentor itty bitty Bettini had a pretty dry year his first year round in the rainbow stripes. He did, however back up and win the WC again the following year before retiring.

Cav did set some sort of record for crashing in the rainbow stripes as well.

Romans Vainsteins is definitely one - never won a race after hisWorld champs in 2000. A truly dodgy and opportunistic motherfucker. And if I recall rightly from some article from Procycling or Cycle Sport many moons ago, he also managed to marry the daughter of the owner of his team sponsor Vini Caldirola. Respect!

Sounds like my kind of rider. Technically, Lance W!#ker C**t Gunderson should be in this category, except I don't think his ban would go back far enough. Lance in nappies wouldn't be far enough back IMO.
piwakawaka says:

Apr 22 2013 at 2:00 am

LtD @ LBL

http://app.strava.com/activities/49977381
Deakus says:

Apr 22 2013 at 2:11 am

@Marcus

@Deakus except Rogers will be riding for Contador. Do you touch yourself when you think about Team Sky?

Nope...even I am not brave enough to touch mine! However, if you wish to read in to this a desire to spur on a British Team and see them succeed, then yes you are correct......a frustrating Spring Classics series, but I look forward to the Grand Tour series with some excitement, not only for Sky but also because I think there are some real contenders coming through the ranks on several teams and I think it is going to be a stonking summer!
Deakus says:

Apr 22 2013 at 2:17 am

@Marcus

@Deakus except Rogers will be riding for Contador. Do you touch yourself when you think about Team Sky?

O...and I meant Porte...wierd mistake to make confusing those two but C'est La Vie...